Vibratory feeder



July 6, 1943. c. s. WEYANDT I VIBRATORY FEEDER Filed May 1. 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet l Gttomeg l \L i- I EEE-WESUGLE T I Ti. I .4

July 6, 1943.

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July 6, 1943.

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Patented July 6, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VIBRATORY FEEDER Carl S. Weyandt, Homer City, Pa.

Application May 1, 1939, Serial No. 270,999 7 7 Claims,

This invention relates to the art of conveying or handling non-mobile or semi-mobile materials, such as pastes, powders, sand, gravel, and the like, and relates in particular to apparatus for feeding the same in a controlled or regulated movement.

According to the present invention a conveyor trough or chute is mounted to vibrate with a conveying action, and a hopper or bin is provided for discharging materials into the trough, the discharge mouth of the hopper being in such proximity to the trough that the accumulation of material on the trough retards the flow of material from the hopper. The vibratory conveyor thus acts as a vibratory gate to control the discharge from the hopper. The feed opening provided between the hopper and conveyor may be adjusted as desired by relative positioning of the hopper and conveyor.

In order to secure a greater degree of uniformity of flow, I Vibrate the hopper walls" to maintain the material therein in a state of flux, the preferred type of hopper employed being in the form of a cone, preferably built up of two half sections and having substantially non-angular walls. I prefer to utilize a self contained electromagnetically reciprocated or vibrated type of vibrator for vibrating the hopper, as such a vibrator is relatively noiseless and maintains the hopper walls in constant and substantially uniform vibration adjacent the apex of the hopper.

I have further found that when the conveyor is adjusted to a very slow rate of feed it is imv portant to vibrate the hopper walls at the correct amount, depending on the character of the material and on other factors, to prevent bridg ing of the material or packing of the material in the hopper, as at the slower rates of discharge 'of material from the hopper the material therein is more liable to form a bridge or clog in the hopper. It is, therefore, a further feature of my invention to provide independent control of the vibration of the hopper and of the conveyor, and in the preferred embodiment the vibrations of the conveyor and the hopper vibrations are insulated from each other by suitable vibration absorbers.

The reciprocatory motor herein described and a conveyor operated thereby form the subject matter of my application Serial No. 106,851, filed October 21, 1936, for Vibratory electrical apparatus, issued as Patent No. 2,187,717 on January 23, 1940, of which the present apuiication is in part a continuation.

'As a further feature of the invention I may employ a unidirectional pulsating current to operate the vibrator and the conveyor, one half wave of the alternating current source being utilized .to operate the vibrator and the other half wave being utilized to operate the conveyor.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide novel apparatus for feeding, handling or conveying non-fluid materials at a" controlled or uniform rate, which may be varied through a wide range.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus for feeding materials from a hopper whereby the rate of feed may be controlled or changed by adjusting the hopper and conveyor relative to each other.

A further object is the provision of a material conveying or feeding machine that is universal in character and may bev employed forfeeding or conveying a wide variety of materials.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus for feeding materials in which the material is kept in a state of agitation throughout its course.

Another object is the provision of a feeding apparatus which will not become clogged by oversizematerial.

Another object is the provision of feeding apparatus comprising a hopper for feeding material to a reciprocatory conveyor and in which the vibration of the hopper may be adjusted separately and independently of the vibration of the conveyor.

These and other objects will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

,Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is an end view, looking in the direction of the arrow 11 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a conveyor employed in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a bottom view of the conveyor motor looking in the direction of the arrow IV in Figure 3, Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 4;

Figure .6 is an electrical wiring diagram with an electric motor schematically shown;

Figure 7 is an end elevation view on an enlarged scale, of. a preferred type of vibratory member; a

Figure 8 is-an elevation view of a detail of the hopper adjustment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 9 is an end view of the hopper adjustment handle shown in Figure 1 tion of the hopper and conveyor mounting shown in Figure l;

1 Figure 13 is a partially sectional front view oi I the conveyor adjustment shown in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a side view of a further modificalion;

Figure is an end view of Figure 14, and Figure 16 is an electrical wiring diagram with certain parts schematically shown for operating the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 continuously or intermittently.

Referring to the drawings. the numeral l designates a base of any suitable construction, which as shown. is of inverted channel shape, and has horizontal flanges 2 and 3 at its ends. The base preferably is made massive and is bolted or otherwise secured tosllitable resilient vibration elements 5 which rest on the floor. The vibration members 5 iFigure ll each comprise an inverted channel strip 6 with a hole I bored or punched therethrough. and having rubber pads 8- and 9 vulcanized-or otherwise secured thereto on one of their faces respectively, and their period of vibration may be determined by suitable selection of their width. To the opposite faces are secured angle plates i0 and H having holes l2 formed therein. The base I is secured to the channel strip 6 by bolts l3.

An electrolnagnet assembly comprises a core N in the shape of an E built up oi laminated steel plates located between two male bars IS and i6. and rivets I] pass through the bars I! and I6 and through the plates of magnet core H to hold them in assembled relation. Two

, brackets or plates i8 and I9 having the reenforcing' flanges thereon are formed integral with the base I. and the magnet core I4 is secured to the plates l8 and is in spaced relation thereto by bolts 2i passing. through the angle bars 15 and I6 and threadedinto thesebrackets, a spacing plate 22 being interposed therebetween. A coil 28 of wire surrounds 'the middle leg of the magnet core and is secured in position by suitable clips 24 passing through the angle plates 25 which may be welded or otherwise secured to angle bars 15 and IS, a resilient pad 26 of. rubber or other suitable material being interposed between the coil and magnet. base.

At the ends oi the electromagnet twohexagonai side bars 21 and 28 of non-magnetic .materlal 'such'as non-magnetic stainless steel,

are'b'olted to the brackets II and I! by nuts I! threaded onto the reduced lower ends of the bars. The upper ends of bars 21 and II are reduced and threaded at their upper ends to receive od- Justing nuts 30' and Si thereon, and the spring supports 32 and a have holes therein through which pass the reduced threaded ends 0! the side bars. The spring support 82 is adlustably held in position on nut 80 by lock nut" 84, and the support 38 is held on nut Si by lock nut 88.

The spring holders 8! and 88 are bimrcated as indicated at 36 and 81 and receive the prongs 8! and 4! of the spring 88 which is bifurcated at its ends. The spring ll is shown asa lamiother suitable form, and may be composed of as many laminations as desired to give it the :2 quiredstiflness or flexibility and strength. It

built up of laminated plates which are held in assembled relation between the angle plates 42 r and 43 by means of rivets 44 passing therethrough. A motion transmitting or connector member 45 is secured to the angle plates 42 and 43 in spaced relation to the armature bar 4| in any suitable manner, as by welding thereto, and the assembly comprising the armature 4!, angle plates 42 and 48, and motion transmitting member 45 are secured to the spring 38 by a recessed clamp bar 48 and bolts 41 passing through the clamp bar and threaded into the motion transmitting member 45 and angle plates 42 and 43.

In the preferred form shown, the motion transmitting member 45 is angle shaped andis bolted to a plate 50. welded to the bottom adjacent the open end SI of the conveyor trough 52. The opposite closed end 58 of the conveyor trough 52 has a bracket 54 welded or otherwise secured thereon to which is suitably bolted one end of a leaf spring 56, the other end of the spring being suitably bolted to a bracket 56 which may be integral with the base I. The spring supports 'and guides one end of the conveyor trough so that it will be capable of vibratory motion. However, it will be understood that the .rear end of the trough may be mounted for approximately horizontal movement in any other suitable manner.

Referring to Figure 6, wherein a preferred operating circuit is shown, the thermionic valve II is connected into any suitable alternating. current circuit represented generally by the numeral 59,,which may be a commercial power line carrying alternating current, for example at frequencies of 25, 30, 50 or 60 cycles per second, in such a way that unidirectional pulsations or current separated by a time interval of zero energy pass through the rheostat GI, and through the thermionic valve '58 allowing current to flow therethrough in one direction only. The cathode i! of the thermionic valve ma be heated by current supplied from any suitable source, such as disk. mercury and electrolytic type may be used.-

The operation of the apparatus so far described now will be explained. When a pulsating current is passed through coil 28 the electromagnetic force set up inthe magnet l4 ottracts the armature 4i against the resilient resistance of springs so and i8, and when thecurrent wave dies down sufllcientlv the inertia of the moving parts continues the motion until the built up restoring force in the springs gradually reverses the motion and retracts the armature and thus moves the trough 82 which is connected. l

thereto. On continued flow of current through the solenoid a vibratory motion of the armature and spring is set up, which moves the trough I! with a vibratory motion, and any material placed on the trough, such as sand, powder, or articles .1 noted leaf or bar spring, but it may have any of any'kind, will be conveyed continuously in one direction. The vibration absorbers lam so selmted with respect to the'mass of the base I that the base and absorbers'have a free vibration period equal to the natural period of the conveyor mounting wherebythe vibration amplitude of the conveyor is greatly increased. The vibration absorbers thus are tuned to utilize reactive forces in the base to assist the conveyor action.

The natural periodicity of the conveyor mounting preferably is sub-synchronous to the recurrence period of the electromagnetic impulses, so that the conveyor at all times responds to the electromagnetic impulses. The rate of feed of the conveyor therefore can be'quickly changed by adjustment of the rheostat 6| which governs the current supplied to the solenoid 23 of the motor and thus governs the amplitude of vibration thereof.

Referring to Figures 1- and 2, a frame designated generally by the numeral H6 is made up of angle bars welded or otherwise suitably secured together. of four angle bars II1 with one face II8 turned inward and the other face vertical, and the conveyor base I is suitably supported on the inwardly turned faces Il8thereof. The conveyor base I is set on the vibration absorbers 5, of which any desired number may be employed, so that the vibrations of the base I are not transmitted to the frame H6. The frame H6 is also set upon vibration absorbers II9 which are like The bottom of the frame is made the vibration absorbers 5, and serve to preventvibrations in the floor from affecting the frame or the members supported thereon.

The frame II6 has two pairs of side members I and I2I which have cross pieces I22 at their upper ends, and support the hopper brackets I23 and I24 thereon. As the two hopper brackets are constructed alike only one will be described in detail. The bracket I24 has an inverted L- shaped foot which is bolted to the cross piece I22 at the top by bolts I25 and at the sides by bolt I26. A curved bar or pipe I21 connects the two side members I20 and IZI of the frame to provide a re-enforcement for the top portion thereof. To the upright partof the hopper bracket I24 is welded or otherwise secured, the inclined internally threaded sleeve I3I. Segmented grooved pulleys I32 and I33 are rotatably journalled on bclts- I34 and I35 passing through suite able transverse holes in the upper ends of bars I29 and I30, and cables I36 and I31 are secured to the respective pulleys at one end thereof by suitable clamps, the other ends thereof being clamped to the wall of conical hopper I44. Adjustment screws I38 and I39 are threaded through threaded sleeves I3I with their ends abutting one segmental face of the pulleys I32 and I33 respectively. The other ends of screws I38 and I39 carry hand wheels I40 and I4I. As

' shown in Figure 2, the conveyor trough 52 has a.

rounded bottom, and I prefer to provide a suitable table or platform I43 near the closed end of the trough. It will be apparent that the hopper I44 is supported by the cables I36 and I31 with its smaller end over the table I43, and it will spect to the table I43. The space I45 between the end-l46 of the hopper and the table I43 constitutes a controllable feed opening, which may be varied by varying the hopper with respect to the table. The ends of the bars I29 and I30 may be pointed to co-operate with suitable graduations I41 on the pulleys to insure correct adjustment thereof.

It will be understood that where a chute hav-.

the, table I43 may be be apparent that by rotating pulleys I32 and I33 the hopper may be raised or lowered with respectively, by relative positioning of the hopper.

and conveyor. n

A clevis block I50 secured to the hopper has a bolt I5I therein about which is located a grooved rubber grommet I52, one looped end of rod I53 being swivelled about this grommet I52. A clevis bracket is welded or otherwise secured to the cross piece I55 of the frame .6. The adjustment handle I56 is in the form of a U and a bolt I51 passing through the base of the U and through the clevis bracket I54.serves as a pivot for the handle I56. A second grommet I58 is located on a bolt I 59 passing through the arms of the U. handle I56, and the other end of rod I53 is looped over the grommet I58. A'nut on the end of bolt I51 clamps the handle I56 in adjusted position. By means of this construction, by pivoting the handle I56 about its axis I51 the hopper may be tilted from the vertical as desired to adjust the feed opening I45- from the end or from the top surface of table I43. The clevis bracket I54 is calibrated, and the indexmark on the handle I56 co-operates therewith to insure correct setting of the hopper.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the hopper I44 is substantially insulated from the frame II6. so as to practically prevent the transmission of vibration from the hopper to the frame; The rubber grommets I52 and I58 prevent the transmission of vibration through rod I53 to the frame, and the cables I36 and I31 prevent the transmission of vibration to the hopper supports and thence to the frame. Similarly, the vibration absorbers 5 prevent the vibrations of base Ifrom being transmitted to the frame H6 and thence to the hopper I 44, and the vibration absorbers II9 insulate the whole apparatus from any external vibration interference.

To overcome any tendency of the material in the hopper I44 to form a bridge or clog the hopper, I provide a vibrator designated generally by -is secured to a plate I61-bolted onto the wall of the hopper I44. A rectangular opening I68 is formedcentrally of the base I6'I and receives a laminated 'electromagnet core I69 substantially in the shape of an inverted T. The core I69 is secured to the base I6I by cutting the'base in half on its long axis, inserting the core I69 in place, and riveting the two halves and the core together by rivets I10 passing'through the core andcentral rib I62. The two halves of the base then are reunitedby welding. In this way a very rigid structure is built up in which the magnet core I69 is securely held to the base I6I.

A cushioning pad I1I of rubber or other suitable material ls placed on the base over the core tion by suitable rivets I81.

- their heads closer to I88, the core being surrounded by a layer of insulation fabric I12, and a coil I18 of insulated wire wound horizontally surrounds the leg of the core. A pair of clips I18 suitably insulated from the coil are bolted to the base IBI to hold the wire coil I18 securely in place on the base. Adjacent each end of the base are two supports for the armature indicated generally by the numerals I18.and I18. As these supports are alike in construction. only one of them will be described in detail. The supporting member I18- armature supports securely in place at opposite ends of the core I88.

The armature I88 is of laminated construction and is substantially in the shape of a C on its side. The laminated plates of the armature I88 are enclosed by thicker side plates I88 and I88 on either side which extend part way along the legs of the C and beyond the armature proper. all the plates being held in assembled posi- Cross bars I88 at each end having bolt holes I80 therein are positioned between the side plates I88 and I88 and are welded thereto, and the armature assembly is secured to the resilient members I18 and I18 by bolts I88. Spacing washers I88 are interposed between the horizontal bars I88 and 88 and the tops of the channel members I11 to space the armature a suitable distance to provide an air gap from the end of core IN, and the nuts I8I hold the armature. spacers and channel members in assembled position. By reason of the non-magnetic properties of the armature supports I18 and I18, the possibility.

of the electromagnetic flux being shunted around the air gap into the armature is eliminated. This vibrator is described and claimed in my Patent Number 2,208,244. issued July 2. 1840.

The vibratory mass. which term includes the armature I88 and the vibratory portions of supports I18 and I18 has period of vibration out of resonance with theelectromagnetic impulse; whereby it vibrates with a differential motion, and I prefer to construct the pads I18 and I88 so that the vibratory mass has a period of about two-thirds to eleven-twelfths that of the electromagnetic impulse. the exact relation depending on the nature of the pulsating current and the amount of differential motion desired.

Ordinarily. when the armature is vibrating. the amplitude of its vibration is such that the heads of bolts I88 do not strike the base IN. and the armature I88 does not strike the electromagnet core I88. However. the vibration may be adjusted to a. greater amplitude. if desired. by increasing the voltage supplied to the coil I18 so that the vibrator operates on the impact principle. or the bolts I88 may be adjusted-to bring the base III so that they will strike the base. Two surfaces I88 of "Stellite" or similar hard preferably non-magnetic the opposite faces of the pads, and are bolted to the base I8I by bolts I88'thereby holding the materialare welded in suitable depressions to the case steel base in line with the bolts I88 so that the heads of bolts I88 will strike these surfaces under such conditions. The heads of bolts I88 also may be coated with Stellite" or similar material if desired.

The non-magnetic contact surfaces I82 and the "Stellite" coating on the heads of bolts I98, if used, also prevent or limit shunting of the mag netic flux under conditions of operation where impact occurs.

The vibrator I80 is located a suitable distance from the smaller end I88 of the hopper so that the vibrations of the hopper are substantially uniformly distributed about its periphery at the smaller end, this action being assisted by the top flange I88 of the hopper which increases the rigidity of the larger end and forces the vibrations toward the smaller end. The conveyor table or platform I88 vibrates across the open mouth I88 of the'hopper I88 and moves material through the feed opening I88 onto the conveyor trough, the vibrator I80 meanwhile maintaining the material in the hopper in a state of flux so that it responds to the feeding movements of the conveyor trough. The vibratory motion feeds the material toward the open end of the conveyor in a continuous stream. Due to the axis of vibration of the armature being at an angle to the bottom of the conveyor, the action I believe is one of successively rapidlywithdrawing the conveyor from under the particles of material in one direction and more slowly returning the conveyor to pick up the particles of material at a diiferent point thereon and move them ahead. The rate of feed of the conveyor can be adjusted for materials of various natures by rotating the adjustment screws I88 and I39 to raise or lower the hopper with relation to the conveyor table I88 and thus adjust the feed opening I88. The feed opening can also be adjusted by loosening bolt I81 and moving handle I88 to change the inclination of the hopper axis and thus change the size of the feed opening I88. Theadjustment provided by handle I88 is particularly advantageous in handling fine materials, such as, activated carbon, which have a tendency to flush. In handling such materials the hopper is set close to plate I88 and is then pushed forward by handle I88 beyond the forward edge of table I88, so that if the material starts to flush the hopper may be-retracted by handle I88 to stop the flush then gradually return the hopper to the desired working position.

The hopper being supported by the frame N8. the conveyor trough 82 carries only a small part of the load of material therein. Any Increase in the load on the conveyor trough has the tendency to load the springs 88 and 88 and thus bring the armature 8| closer to the magnet II to decrease the air gap and thus increase the power of the electromagnet. which may automatically compensate for change in load and thus maintain the rate of feed substantially uniform under varying conditions of load. The rate of feed of the conveyor can be adjusted by meansnof the hopper adjustment. or by change in the amplitude of vibration of the conveyor motor which occurs with change in current supplied thereto. an increase in amplitude increasing the rate of feed. 1

In the modification shown in Figure 12, wherein corresponding parts receive the same numerals, I provide an arrangement whereby the hopper is also horizontally adjustable. In this construction L-plate extensions 202 are bolted to the cross pieces I22 of the side members I20 and l2l of the frame by bolts 203 and 204 passing through slots 205 therein. The upright bars I29 and I30 are welded or cast integral with the L plates 202. By this construction the L-plate extensions 202 may be horizontally adjusted on the frame cross pieces I22. A modified form of conveyor trough 208 is preferably used in connection with 1 this modification and has a long table 209 so as to provide a wide range of adjustment. This modification, in which the distance between the open end of the conveyor trough and the hopper 'is shortened is particularly suitable for feeding deliquescent chemicals which tend to cake and are therefore difficult to feed in small or uniform quantities. This adjustment also allows a variation of the rate of feed of the conveyor. The rate of feed of the conveyor depends, among other factors, on the distance from the end of the conveyor to the hopper and the depth of material'thereon, and by varying the hopper location along the conveyor trough one of the factors controlling the rate of feed, namely, the

distance from the end of the'conveyor to the hopper, is varied.

Referring to Figures 12 and 13, thereare holes 2l0 and 2H threaded into the lower bar N8 of the frame H6, and screws 2l2 and 2l3 are threaded into these holes and locked in position by suitable lock nuts. Each end of the conveyor base I resting on vibration absorbers 5 is secured to a bar 2| 4 which slidably receives the screws 2I2 and 2l3 and is held in position'thereon by suitable lock nuts. It will be apparent that each end of the conveyor base I and with it the conveyor trough 208 can be elevated as desired by suitable adjustment of the lock nuts holding the bar 2l4 in position to regulate the size of the feed opening, or to change the inclination of the trough up or. down hill.

' In Figure 16 I have shown an electrical diagram for continuously or intermittently operating the vibratory conveyor, the hopper vibrator odes of tubes 246 and 241 being interconnected to produce two series of direct current impulses.

The conveyor vibratory motor is designated by the inductance 248, and the hopper vibrator motor by the inductance 249. One half wave of circuit is through switch 244, lead wire 252 to the terminal 253 of switch 254. When it is desired to operate the vibratory conveyor and hopper When it is desired to operate the reciprocatory conveyor intermittently, the switch 254 is moved to contact terminals 265 and 266. In this position of the switch, the current circuit is through lead 252 and lead 268 to the terminal 269 of the synchronous 'motor 210; and from the other terminal 212 thereof through lead 213 to the switch contact 266, through the switch 254 to terminal 261 and from thence by leads 214 and 26I to the power wire 25! of the alternating current source. The synchronous motor 210 therefore is in continuous operation at an accurate chronometric speed in this position of the switch.

The synchronous motor 210 drives a timing member shown diagrammatically having a plurality of projecting threaded switch actuator pins 215, shown as four in number. However, any desired number of actuator pins may be employed. The actuator pins 215 are adapted to engage a support 216 for a mercury switch 211 which is pivotally supported at 218 on a panel 219, and when an actuator pin 215 engages the end of support 216 the support is tilted downward, thus causing the mercury to flow to the left and establish communication between the electrodes 282 and 283 of the mercury switch. When the actuator pin 215 passes the supports 216 the weight of the support returns it to the position shown resting on the adjusting screw 28L The actuator pins 215 may be adjusted to compensate for wear by loosening lock nut 285 thereon, threading the actuator into or out of the supporting ring as desired, and again tightening the lock nut.

motor continuously the switch 254 is thrown to connect terminals 253 and 255 and switch 250 is opened, the current wave passing by lead 256 through inductance 248, through the ammeter 251, the rheostat 258 and fixed resistance 259 through the anode 260 of the thermionic valve 246. This thermionic valve only allows one half wave to pass therethrough. The other half wave circuit is through the lead wire 26l, through the anode 262 of the thermionic valve 241, thence through calibrated rheostat 263 and inductance 249, by lead 256 to switch contact 255, thence through switch 254 to contact 253 and through wire 252 and switch 244 back to power wire 25!.

In'the position of the mercury switch 211, shown in Figure 16 and with switch 254 in intermittent operation position, the mercury switch is open and no current flows through the inductances 248 and 249. in tilted position one half wave flows from the rectifier tube 241 through rheostat 263, inductance 249 to switch terminal 255 and through the When the mercury switch is switch 254 to terminal 265, thence through lead wire 286 to electrode 283, through the mercury to electrode 282, thence by lead wires 281, 268 and 252 to the main conduit. Similarly, the other half wave circuit is from main conduit 25!, through leads 252, 268 and 281 to the mercury switch 211 thence by lead 206 to the switch 254, and thence through lead 256 to inductance 248 and ammeter 251 to rectifier tube 246.

As long as the actuator pins 215 maintain the switch support 216 in tilted position alternate half waves of rectified current will flow through the inductances 248 and 249 to operate the reciprocatory conveyor and the hopper vibrator respectively. As there are four actuator pins 215 and if the synchronous motor 210 rotates them\ once in each minute, there will be four. periods of operation of the vibratory conveyor and hopper vibrator and four periods of idleness in every minute. The duration of each period of operation can be determined by sliding the panel 219 horizontally so as to govern the distance by which support 216 extends into the path of the actuator pins 215. The further this support extends into the actuator pin path the longer will be the operative periods of the conveyor and hopper vibrator. Preferably, the timing is such that the circuit is opened during periods of zero current.

Thus in the case of a sixty cycle alternating current, if the interruption occurs four times per minute it will be after the fifteenth, thirtieth, forty-fifth and sixtieth pulsation in that particular minute. The calibration means for the switch comprises a rack 290 and a gear wheel 29I in mesh therewith and carrying an indicator which shows the position of the switch support with relation to the actuators in time units of contact. I

If desired, the hopper vibrator may be operated continuously and the conveyor motor operatedintermittently. This is accomplished when the switch 254 is moved to intermittent operation position and switch 250 is closed. With this arrangement current flows continuously through the hopper vibrator motor circuit comprising anode 262, rheostat 2G3, inductance 209, switch 250, lead wire 288 and lead wire 252. The operation of the conveyor motor is as previously described with the switch 256 in intermittent operation position.

In operating the feeder machine,v the line switch 2 is first closed to heat the filaments of the thermionic tubes 246 and 2 the switch 254 is thrown to the desired position, and switch 250 is also thrown to open or closed position as desired. The amplitude of vibration of the conveyor is governed by adjustment of the rheostat 258 which governs the current supplied to the coil of theconveyor motor, and the ampli-' tude of vibration or force of vibration of the hopper vibrator is governed by adjustment of the rheostat 283 which preferably is calibrated. The ammeter 251, which indicates the setting of the rheostat 250 may be calibrated to show the rate of feed in units of weight or volume per unit of time. The continuous operation system is utilized for all rates of feed of certain materials which are easily handled, and the intermittent operation system is utilized principally for very low rates of feed below the rate at which a continuous feed can be maintained at a uniform rate. For example, a machine built according to the modification shown in Figure 1 is capable of feeding at the rate of a few ounces per hour up to several thousand pounds per hour,,depending on the nature of the material being handled. This universal ability of the machine is illustrated in the following tableoi' rates of feed for a given machine:

, r hr. P hr. f rate ma x rate Pounds Hands 000 ii m limits..

When it is desired to operate the feeder machine at an intermittent rate, the calibration means 23! is set for the desired duration of operation, and the switch 204 is thrown to the intermittent operation position so as to operate the conveyor motor and hopper vibrator motor in- .of the springs may be incorporated in one machine. The intermittent operation of the apparatus is claimed in my application Serial Number 460,789, filed October 5, 1942, for Method and apparatus for conveying materials.

In the modification shown in Figures 14 and 15, the hopper 3I5 which may be of inverted pyramidal form, has angle plates 3I8 and 3H secured to its sides by which the hopper is bolted to the horizontal bars I22 of the frame members I20 and I2l. Vibration absorbers 3I3 may be secured to the base I" of the frame, these vibration absorbers being formed from rubber hose lengths and suitably bolted to the frame.

The base I of the conveyor has a clevis 3I8 secured to its rear end to which is pivotally secured one end of a link 820, the other end of the link being pivoted in a clevis 32l suitably secured to a bar 322 welded to the frame members I20 and I2I. A round bar 323 is journalled at one end in a suitable hole in supporting angle bracket 323 secured to the frame member I2I. A similar angle bracket 325 on the other frame member I20 has a U-shaped bracket 328 secured thereto which contains a handle 321. suitably pinned to rod 323 to rotate therewith, and a nut 328 on the threaded end of rod 323 clamps the handle in adjusted position. Rods 330 and I are threaded into suitable holes in rod 323 to extend rearwardly thereof.

The front end of base I has a bar 334 bolted thereto and coil springs 338 and 33B are secured to bar 334 at their lower ends and to rods 330 and 33I respectively at their upper ends.

The base I carries a conveyor trough B2 on a rear cantilever spring 55 and a front reciprocating motor constructed as shown in Figures 1 to 3, which is enclosed in a housing 33], and the conveyor assembly thus is pivotally secured at the rear end to the frame members I20 and I2I, and at the front is suspended by springs 33! and 336. Vibrations of the base I therefore are not transmitted to the frame. The natural period 335 and 338 is adjusted to assist the conveying action.

The mouth of hopper 3i! is cut of! at an angle to the horizontal, as indicated at 333, and thus provides a feed opening Ill between the hopper wall and the conveyor trough. This feed openin: may bevaried by changing the relation of the conveyor trough to the hopper, as by changing the inclination of the trough to the horizontal. This adjustment is accomplished by tuming handle 321, which rotates bar 323 carrying supportingsprings 333 and 333 at the ends of rods 330 and 33! to raise or lower the front end of the conveyor, and the handle may be locked in, adjusted position by nut 323. The range of adjustment provided may be preferably a declination of ten degrees and an inclination of ten degreeamaking a total adjustment of twenty degrees. .However, any-other range ofadjustment desired may be provided. This adjustment entermittently for the desired duration as determined by the setting of calibration means 2". In the case of some materials. that are dimcult to handle, it may be desired-to operate the hopper vibrator continuously, and the .conveyor 111-, termittently, and for this purposethe switch at is closed. It also will b understo'od that any of the various modificationsherein disclosed ables a large variation in the rate of feed of the conveyor and 'also enables the conveyor to be adjusted to feed downhill or uphill. This adjustment also is of advantage in handling materials having a tendency to flush, for the conveyor may be adjusted upward to provide a small feed opening with the hopper and then adjusted itiiownwardly to provide the desired working posion. As the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departure from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present tially horizontal substantially flat .portion, supply of material over the'conveyor,

'. In a vibratory feeding apparatus, a vibra-- preferred embodiments are therefore to be considered as illustrative rather than restrictive of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent 1. In a vibratory feeder machine, a substanvibratory conveyor having a a hopper to hold a said hopand to the per having an opening in a substantially horizonl0 tal plane adjacent and substantially parallel to said flat portion of said conveyor whereby accumulation of material on the conveyor blocks the feed opening, and means to tilt the axis of the hopper to change the plane of the feed 15' and adjust the feed opening thereand means to vibrate said conveyor substantially hori- 3. In a vibratory feeder machine, a vibratory tory conveyor S pported for operation, a support, a pair of sheaves rotatably mounted on said support, vibration absorbingflexible suspension means secured at one end to said sheaves, a hopper secured above said conveyor other end of said means, and screw means engaging said sheaves for rotating the same to extend or shorten said suspension means.

6. In a vibratory feeding machine, a support, a hopper adapted to contain material supported by said support. a conveyor supported beneath said. hopper to receive material from said hopa substanthe conveyor blocks coriveyorya hopper having an open-end supported over the-conveyor to provide a feed opening therebetween, means to elevate or lower the hopper with relation to the conveyor, calibrated means to tilt the hopper, and means to move the hopper horizontally to regulate the feed thereof.

4. In a feeder machine, a frame, a hopper having an open end suspended therefrom by vibration absorbing flexible suspension means, a reciprocatory conveyor mounted to reciprocate across the opening of the hopper, said conveyor having a flat portion at the hopper open-v ing acting as a vibratory gate, and means to adJust said hopper suspension means to govern said opening between the hopper and conveyor.

per, an. electromagnetic conveyor motor connected to said conveyor for vibrating the same, an alternating current circuit for said conveyor motor, a self-contained electromagnetic reciprocatory vibrator connected to said hopper for vibrating the same, an alternating current circuit for the hopper vibrator, and means in the hopper vibrator portion of the circuit for varying the current supplied to said hopper vibrator for controlling said vibrator separately from the conveyor motor.

7. In a vibratory feeding machine, asupport, a hopper adapted to contain material supp rted by sai support, a conveyor supported beneath said hopper to receive material from said said conveyor for vibrating the same,. a selfcontained electromagnetically reciprocatory vibrator secured to said hopper for vibrating the same, an alternating current circuit including means for separating the alternating current into complementary half waves connected to operate the hopper vibrator and conveyor motorrespectively, and means in the hopper vibrator portion of said circuit for varying the current supplied to said hopper vibrator separately from the current supplied to the conveyor motor.

CARL S. WEYANDT.

hopper, 1 an electromagnetic conveyor motor connected to 

